Theory
What is trauma informed self-care?
Distinguishes basic wellness habits from structured approaches like supervision, peer support, and balanced caseloads that address the emotional impact of trauma-heavy work (Salloum et al., 2015)
What role does a supervisor play in reducing liability concerns?
-Help guide decisions
-Ensuring policies are followed
-Support best practices, and ethical decision-making (Kanani et al., 2002)
Why is confidentiality so difficult in child protection?
Duty to protect can override confidentiality
If multiple clients are involved, whose confidentiality takes priority?
Collaboration among sectors requires information sharing
Power imbalances
Trauma, crisis and distrust complicate disclosure (Kanani et al., 2002)
What does it mean to be “child-centred”?
understanding the child’s context and culture,
recognizing the impact of trauma,
considering developmental needs, and
ensuring the child’s own voice meaningfully informs decisions. (Wilkins, D., & Whittaker, C., 2021)
What does developing a supportive and sustainable professional practice look like?
Accepting the results that come from cases that go “right” can be just as impactful as those that do not. Emphasizes building sustainable habits early, such as asking for help, using agency resources, and resisting the urge to “push through.” (Messy Social Work Podcast; Salloum et al., 2015)
How can one use strengths-based practice ethically?
- Work with, not for service users
- Ensure their understanding of supports is correct
- Review the outcomes of one’s practice (Saleebey, 1996)
What are some ways strengths-based theory can be harmful?
- Ignores reality and client struggles
- It is easy to misuse
- It can be used to shift all responsibility on the service user
(Saleebey, 1996).
What does effective child welfare practice include?
Building relationships, empowering families, and focusing on strengths (Toros et al., 2016)
What is the ethical responsibility of self-care in professional practice?
Rooted in the belief that workers are just as valuable as the people they serve, recognizing that maintaining boundaries, balancing caseloads, and caring for one’s wellbeing is necessary for competent and responsible social work. (Salloum et al., 2015)
What theory focuses on acknowledging a person’s identity, experiences, and dignity?
Recognition theory (Turney, 2012)
Why is documentation important in reducing liability in child welfare?
Good documentation shows:
- What the worker did
- Why they made that decision
- Proper procedures were followed
(Karima Kanani et al., 2002)
What ethical obligations are essential when working with families, especially when clients are resistant or involuntary?
Recognition, respect, and dignity (Turney, 2012)
In child welfare, it can be hard to focus on the strengths and supports a child may have due to their lack of power. In spite of this, what are some ways one can use strengths-based practice when working with children?
-School Supports
-Family Support
-Friend Support (Saleebey, 1996)
Why is decision-making in child welfare so complex?
Because it involves balancing safety, rights, culture, systemic inequalities, law, organizational expectations, and worker ethics (Auger, 2012).
What are some ethical concerns about having child welfare laws vary across different provinces?
-Ethical Dilemmas for Workers
-Inconsistency in Resource accessibility
-Interprovincial moves can cause gaps in protection and services (Kanani et al., 2002)